<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE article  PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD Journal Publishing DTD v3.0 20080202//EN" "http://dtd.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/3.0/journalpublishing3.dtd"><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="3.0" xml:lang="en" article-type="research article"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">WSN</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>Wireless Sensor Network</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn pub-type="epub">1945-3078</issn><publisher><publisher-name>Scientific Research Publishing</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.4236/wsn.2017.95008</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">WSN-76449</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="Discipline-v2"><subject>Computer Science&amp;Communications</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title>
 
 
  A Novel Cluster Based Time Synchronization Technique for Wireless Sensor Networks
 
</article-title></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Gopal</surname><given-names>Chand Gautam</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Narottam</surname><given-names>Chand</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib></contrib-group><aff id="aff1"><addr-line>Department of Computer Science &amp;amp; Engineering, National Institute of Technology Hamirpur, Hamirpur, India</addr-line></aff><author-notes><corresp id="cor1">* E-mail:<email>gopalcgautam@gmail.com(GCG)</email>;</corresp></author-notes><pub-date pub-type="epub"><day>25</day><month>05</month><year>2017</year></pub-date><volume>09</volume><issue>05</issue><fpage>145</fpage><lpage>165</lpage><history><date date-type="received"><day>May</day>	<month>1,</month>	<year>2017</year></date><date date-type="rev-recd"><day>Accepted:</day>	<month>May</month>	<year>22,</year>	</date><date date-type="accepted"><day>May</day>	<month>25,</month>	<year>2017</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement>&#169; Copyright  2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. </copyright-statement><copyright-year>2014</copyright-year><license><license-p>This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</license-p></license></permissions><abstract><p>
 
 
  Time synchronization is one of the important aspects in wireless sensor networks. Time synchronization assures that all the sensor nodes in wireless sensor network have the same clock time. There are various applications such as seismic study, military applications, pollution monitoring where sensor nodes require synchronized time. Time synchronization is mandatory for many wireless sensor networks protocols such as MAC protocols and also important for TDMA scheduling for proper duty cycle coordination. Time synchronization is a stimulating problem in wireless sensor networks because each node has its own local clock which keeps on varying due to variation in the oscillator frequency. The oscillator frequency is time varying due to ambient conditions which leads to re-synchronization of nodes time and again. This re-synchronization process is energy consuming whereas energy is constraints in WSN. This paper proposes a novel cluster based time synchronization technique for wireless sensor networks in which cluster head rotation is based on minimum clock offset. Simulation results based on energy analysis of the proposed model demonstrate that proposed novel cluster based time synchronization technique reduces the energy consumption and also the synchronization error compared with other existing protocols.
 
</p></abstract><kwd-group><kwd>Cluster</kwd><kwd> Offset</kwd><kwd> Delay</kwd><kwd> Time Synchronization</kwd></kwd-group></article-meta></front><body><sec id="s1"><title>1. Introduction</title><p>Recent advancements in the electronic and communication technologies have resulted in the emergence of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). WSNs are composed of small size, low power and low cost wireless micro-sensors, known as Sensor Nodes (SNs) [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref1">1</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref2">2</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref3">3</xref>] . These SNs can be embedded in various objects in order to form intelligent multipurpose distributed systems. These SNs generally perform three major tasks i.e. sensing, data processing and communication [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref4">4</xref>] . SNs are capable of sensing various environmental conditions such as sound, temperature, humidity, strain, acidity pressure, vibration, motion or pollutants [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref5">5</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref6">6</xref>] , etc.</p><p>Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) consists of large number of SNs deployed in unattended environment [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref7">7</xref>] . These SNs monitor objects in the sensing field and report the activities and events to sink. In order to establish correct logical order of the events, the data must be time stamped by the SNs. In WSN some applications such as military applications require accurate time of the event. Data fusion in WSN also demands time stamp of SNs to suppress the duplicate information of the SNs. Time is also important to implement the TDMA schedule in WSNs. Due to various challenges and constraints in WSNs, the clock synchronization protocols (NTP) [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref8">8</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref9">9</xref>] designed by researchers for wired networks do not work in wireless sensor networks. In WSNs each node has its own local clock that may vary from the local clock of other nodes in the network which leads to clock offset. Higher clock offset degrade the WSNs performance and the information collected by the nodes may not provide the accurate timing of the event. Whereas time synchronization in WSNs is important for efficient duty cycling, location based monitoring, target/event tracking data fusion and network scheduling and routing.</p><p>Keeping in view the importance of time synchronization as well as the constraints of SNs, the objective of the proposed research is to develop time synchronization technique that helps to synchronize the SNs in an energy efficient manner. This paper proposes a novel cluster based time synchronization technique for wireless sensor networks to keep local clocks of all the SNs synchronized with global clock.</p><p>In wireless sensor networks, a lot of research [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref10">10</xref>] - [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref31">31</xref>] has already been carried out to design time synchronization protocols such as Reference Broadcast Synchronization (RBS) [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref11">11</xref>] , Romer synchronization [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref13">13</xref>] , TPSN (Timing Sync Protocols for Sensors Networks) [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref15">15</xref>] , Two-hop time synchronization protocol for sensor networks (TTS) [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref18">18</xref>] , Fast distributed multi-hop relative time synchronization protocol and estimators for wireless sensor networks [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref19">19</xref>] , Long term and large scale time synchronization in wireless sensor networks (2LTSP) [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref20">20</xref>] , and Average time synchronization in wireless sensor networks by pairwise messages (ATSP) [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref21">21</xref>] , Time synchronization protocol based on spanning tree [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref28">28</xref>] , Lightweight and Energy Efficient Time Synchronization (LEETS) Protocols [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref29">29</xref>] and Lightweight Fault-tolerant Time synchronization [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref30">30</xref>] . Some of these protocols synchronize the nodes internally by placing the nodes on common notion of time and some synchronize externally by using large number of messages to adjust the clocks of the sensor nodes with global clock.</p><p>The proposed novel cluster based time synchronization technique for wireless sensor networks to keep local clocks of all the SNs synchronized with global clock by using less number of messages. In the proposed technique initially the SNs are arranged in clusters by using energy efficient clustering algorithm (EECA) and then time synchronization is performed.</p><p>The rest of the paper is organized as follows. In Section 2 describes the proposed energy efficient clustering algorithm (EECA) for WSNs. Section 3 describes the proposed time synchronization algorithm and synchronization error estimation. Energy analysis is performed in Section 4. Section 5 contains simulation and analysis and finally we conclude the paper in Section 6.</p></sec><sec id="s2"><title>2. Energy Efficient Clustering Algorithm</title><p>In this section, we describe our proposed protocol, called Energy Efficient Clustering Algorithm (EECA) for wireless sensor networks. The proposed technique has been segregated into different phases; creation of clusters to prolong the network lifetime, CH selection and cluster head rotation. EECA forms clusters before selecting cluster-head. Our proposed EECA works in three steps: (2.1) Cluster formation process, (2.2) Cluster head selection process and (2.3) Cluster head rotation process.</p><sec id="s2_1"><title>2.1. Cluster Formation Process</title><p>In EECA clustering process is initiated by the sink. Sink calculates the preliminary mean points by sensing field size, optimum number of clusters and average distance of the nodes from the center of the sensing field. After the deployment of SNs in sensing field, the sink initiates the clustering process by finding the</p><p>centroid of the sensing field by using the Equation (1) where <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x2.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> and</p><p><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x3.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>where <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x4.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> and <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x5.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> is the size of the sensor field and <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x6.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> is the area of</p><p>the sensing field.</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula14"><label>(1)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x7.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>When the value of centroid is calculated, sink node finds the average distance d between centroid and all the SNs by using the Equation (2). Where X<sub>i</sub> and Y<sub>i</sub> are the coordinates of the node SN<sub>i</sub>.</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula15"><label>(2)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x8.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>Sink also computes the optimum number of clusters k using the Equation (3) [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref32">32</xref>] . The total number of nodes deployed in the sensing field is n, M is the side of square sensing field and <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x9.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> is average distance to cluster heads from the base station. <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x10.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is energy coefficient of power amplifier stage of SN for free space energy dissipation model and <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x11.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> is energy coefficient of power amplifier stage of SN for multipath energy dissipation model.</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula16"><label>(3)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x12.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>Once the values of centroid, d and k are calculated, sink calculates the value of the preliminary mean points <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x13.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> where <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x14.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> using Equation (4) and broadcasts the locations of preliminary mean points to the SNs.</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula17"><label>(4)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x15.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>The objective of finding the preliminary mean points is to significantly reduce the iteration time of cluster formation. <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref> shows the preliminary mean points in 100 m &#215; 100 m sensing filed area with 50 sensor nodes.</p><p>When the SNs receive the sink message of preliminary mean points, each node find its minimum distance from preliminary mean points by using the Equation (5) and retain the minimum distance.</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula18"><label>(5)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x16.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x17.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is the coordinate of SN<sub>i</sub>, <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x18.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is the cluster j and <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x19.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> is the coordinate of preliminary mean points. The minimum distance between preliminary mean points and SNs helps to form uniform distributed clusters. Nodes join the cluster on the minimum distance to the preliminary mean points using the Equation (6). In each round SNs check their distance with all nearby clusters and node nearest to the preliminary mean point <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x19.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x20.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> in the r<sup>th</sup> round joins the cluster j.</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula19"><label>(6)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x21.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x22.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is the Cluster j in r<sup>th</sup> round. After tagging all the nodes with different clusters new mean points are created by using the Equation (7).</p><fig id="fig1"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref></label><caption><title> Preliminary mean points along with centroid where n = 50 and k = 5</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x23.png"/></fig><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula20"><label>(7)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x24.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x25.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is the number of SNs in the cluster j. <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref> shows the new mean points.</p><p>The process of finding the new mean points is iterative till the new mean points stop moving. As long as the preliminary mean points keep on changing the nodes are re-arranged again and again as per the Equation (6) and (7). The cluster formation process is complete when the new mean points are fixed and nodes join the final mean points with minimum distance. <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref> shows the flowchart of clustering process.</p></sec><sec id="s2_2"><title>2.2. Cluster Head Selection</title><p>The clustering algorithm divides the whole network into different clusters. The next step is to elect CH within each cluster. Each node within the cluster calculates its distance from the cluster by using the Equation (8). Where X<sub>i</sub> is the coordinates of the SN<sub>i</sub> and C<sub>j</sub> is the coordinates of the final mean point in which the SN<sub>i</sub> tagged itself.</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula21"><label>(8)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x26.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>The cluster head selection is performed using back off timer strategy. SN<sub>i</sub> sets its back off timer by using the Equation (9).</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula22"><label>(9)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x27.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x28.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is the random variable between [0.9, 1]. <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x28.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x29.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is distance of SN<sub>i</sub> from final mean point in a cluster. <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x28.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x29.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x30.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is average distance of all the senor nodes within a cluster.</p><p>The back off timer of each node starts decrementing and the node whose back</p><fig id="fig2"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref></label><caption><title> New mean points after three iterations where n = 50 and k = 5</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x31.png"/></fig><fig id="fig3"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref></label><caption><title> Flowchart of clustering process</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x32.png"/></fig><p>off timer expires first within the cluster, broadcasts a CH advertisement message to other nodes. The nodes receive a CH advertisement message joins the CH by sending the cluster member join message to CH. A node may receive more than one CH advertisement messages. If a node receives more than one message, checks the received signal strength of the messages and send the reply to the CH message received with larger signal strength. <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref> shows the clusters with their cluster heads formed after CH selection.</p><fig id="fig4"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref></label><caption><title> Clustering with CH where n = 50, M = 100 m and k = 5</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x33.png"/></fig></sec><sec id="s2_3"><title>2.3. Cluster Head Rotation</title><p>The role of CH in a cluster must be rotated regularly among its members to prolong the network lifetime of sensor network by balancing the energy consumption of various sensor nodes. CH is required to perform extra tasks such as data gathering, data aggregation, etc. compared to the other sensor nodes. Energy consumption of CH is more compared to other sensor nodes therefore, some mechanism must be applied for CH rotation among the cluster members. A number of methods for CH rotation have been discussed in literature [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref33">33</xref>] - [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref38">38</xref>] .</p><p>In CH rotation process, the new CH is selected from cluster members. CH rotation/re-election process is initiated when residual energy of a node falls below the threshold value. The new CH is elected with higher value of Candidacy factor (CF). Candidacy factor of SN<sub>i</sub> is defined as</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula23"><label>(10)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x34.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>where <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x35.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> is residual energy of SN<sub>i</sub>, <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x35.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x36.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is the distance between SN<sub>i</sub> and centroid of the cluster. <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x35.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x36.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x37.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is clock offset of SN<sub>i</sub>. Each node sends its <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x35.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x36.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x37.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x38.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> value to cluster head. CH would choose the node with highest <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x35.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x36.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x37.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x38.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x39.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> value and pass information to sink and other members about new cluster head. <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5">Figure 5</xref> shows the flowchart of CH selection/rotation process.</p></sec></sec><sec id="s3"><title>3. Cluster Based Time Synchronization</title><p>The proposed cluster based time synchronization (CBTS) algorithm is based on external synchronization. Once the clustering process is complete using EECA protocol proposed in section 3, time synchronization process is initiated by the parent node, which is the sink/base station during the initial phase. Sink/base station is used as a reference node for time. The proposed algorithm is using k CHs. There are k' CHs at level-1 and k'' CHs at level-2. The proposed model is shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6">Figure 6</xref>.</p><fig id="fig5"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5">Figure 5</xref></label><caption><title> Flowchart for selection and rotation of cluster head</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x40.png"/></fig><fig id="fig6"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6">Figure 6</xref></label><caption><title> Exchange of timestamps among parent node, CHs and nodes</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x41.png"/></fig><p>The parent node (<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x42.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>) initiates the synchronization process by broadcasting the Syn_start packet which contains the timestamp <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x42.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x43.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> and then waits for the reply. When the CHs of level 1 (CH<sub>L1</sub>) receive Syn_start packet, they send reply to sink/base station by sending the Syn_ack packet. The Syn_ack packet contains the timestamp <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x42.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x43.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x44.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> where time <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x42.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x43.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x44.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x45.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> is the time of sending Syn_start packet, <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x42.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x43.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x44.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x45.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x46.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is the time when the CHs of level 1 receive the packet and <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x42.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x43.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x44.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x45.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x46.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x47.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> time when CHs of level 1 send the Syn_ack packet. The parent node after receiving the Syn_ack packets, broadcasts Syn_pkt with timestamp <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x42.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x43.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x44.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x45.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x46.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x47.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x48.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> where <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x42.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x43.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x44.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x45.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x46.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x47.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x48.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x49.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> is the time when the parent node receives the Syn_ack packet and <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x42.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x43.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x44.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x45.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x46.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x47.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x48.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x49.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x50.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> is the time to set the clocks of the CHs of level-1. All CHs of level-1 receive the Syn_pkt and calculate the offset (θ) and delay (δ) and set the clocks as:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula24"><label>(11)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x51.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>In the initial synchronization phase, sink/base station functions as parent node. After synchronizing the CHs of level 1, it further functions as parent nodes and synchronizes the cluster nodes and CHs of level 2. Cluster based time synchronization algorithm is as below:</p><p>Sink/Base Station</p><p>1. <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x52.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula></p><p>2. while nodes are not synchronized do</p><p>3. set SCOUNT = k' &#215; T<sub>m</sub></p><p>4. <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x53.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>broadcasts (Syn_start,<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x53.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x54.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>)</p><p>SCOUNT - -</p><p>5. if <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x55.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> wait for reply &amp;&amp; SCOUNT = = 0 then repeat step 4</p><p>6. else</p><p><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x56.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>receive (Syn_ack,<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x56.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x57.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>)</p><p>7. <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x58.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>broadcasts (Syn_Pkt,<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x58.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x59.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>) to CH<sub>L1</sub></p><p>8. endif</p><p>Cluster Heads</p><p>9. if CH<sub>L1</sub> receives (Syn_start,<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x60.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>) then send (Syn_ack,<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x60.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x61.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>) to <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x60.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x61.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x62.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula></p><p>10. else</p><p>CH<sub>L1</sub> waits</p><p>11. endif</p><p>12. if CH<sub>L1</sub> receives (Syn_Pkt,<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x63.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>) from P<sub>n</sub> then</p><p>calculate <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x64.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula></p><p>calculate <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x65.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula></p><p>synchronize <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x66.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula></p><p>13. else</p><p>14. CH<sub>L1</sub> waits</p><p>15. endif</p><p>16. Repeat step from 1 to 15 in next Synchronization Phase</p><p>In the algorithms, <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x67.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is the maximum time required to receive a message from CH and<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x67.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x68.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>, or vice versa, whereas t is the current time and t<sub>α</sub> is the maximum propagation delay. This algorithm sets the logical clock of the CHs and nodes with the global time.</p>Synchronization Error<p>All WSN synchronization schemes [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref10">10</xref>] - [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref31">31</xref>] have four basic packet delay components: send time, access time, propagation time, and receive time as shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7">Figure 7</xref>. The send time is that of the sender constructing the time message to transmit on the network. The access time is that of the MAC layer delay in accessing the network. The time for the bits to be physically transmitted on the medium is considered the propagation time. Finally, the receive time is the time spent by the receiver for processing the message. The synchronization error is calculated by using the time stamp message shown in the <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6">Figure 6</xref>. In synchronization error calculation, access time is combined with send time. The main problem of time synchronization besides having a packet delay is that, it is able to foresee the time spent on each, which can be challenging. Disregarding any of these will significantly surge the performance of the synchronization technique.</p><p>In the proposed CBTS synchronization, a message from the sink to SNs transmits through multi-hops that induce the time delay error because of various delays as shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7">Figure 7</xref>. Exchange of timestamp messages among parent node and cluster heads (shown in the <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6">Figure 6</xref>) are used to analyse the synchronization error of the proposed CBTS. Simply by using send time, propagation time, receive time and clock drift and then equating the timestamps of cluster head and parent node following equations obtained:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula25"><label>(12)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x69.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula26"><label>(13)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x70.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x71.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>and <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x71.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x72.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> represent the timestamps of cluster head and parent node respectively, where <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x71.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x72.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x73.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> n is representing the level. <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x71.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x72.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x73.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x74.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>and <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x71.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x72.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x73.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x74.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x75.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> represent the send time, receive time and propagation delay, respectively. <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x71.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x72.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x73.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x74.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x75.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x76.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is the clock drift of the node. To calculate one-hop synchronization error <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x71.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x72.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x73.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x74.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x75.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x76.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x77.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> subtract the Equation (12) from Equation (13) as:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula27"><label>(14)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x78.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><fig id="fig7"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7">Figure 7</xref></label><caption><title> Time delay model</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x79.png"/></fig><p>Dividing both sides by 2</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula28"><label>(15)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x80.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula29"><label>(16)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x81.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>where Offset <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x82.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> is computed as <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x82.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x83.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> and by subtracting the clock drift from the clock offset, synchronization error for one-hop <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x82.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x83.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x84.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> is obtained as:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula30"><label>(17)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x85.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>The Equation (17) can be modified to obtain multi-hop synchronization error as:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula31"><label>(18)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x86.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula32"><label>(19)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x87.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>Equation (19) calculates synchronization error for multi-hop communication. The objective of finding the synchronization error <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x88.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> is to ensure that at any real time T, <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x88.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x89.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is between lower and upper bounds<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x88.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x89.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x90.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>. If the value of synchronization error goes below <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x88.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x89.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x90.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x91.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> or exceeds<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x88.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x89.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x90.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x91.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x92.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>, the resynchronization process is initiated by the sink/base station.</p></sec><sec id="s4"><title>4. Energy Analysis of CBTS</title><p>Energy analyses of CBTS algorithm is performed for <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x93.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> levels of CHs by using the energy models [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref32">32</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref39">39</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref40">40</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref41">41</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref42">42</xref>] . Since most of the energy is dissipated by the SNs in communication, therefore the energy analysis is performed for the transmission and reception of m bit message for a distance of d. To transmit m bit message over a distance d, the energy cost of transmission <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x93.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x94.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> is as:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula33"><label>(20)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x95.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x96.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is the energy dissipation per bit to run transmitter and receiver electronics circuitry. <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x96.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x97.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is the energy coefficient of power amplifier stage of sensor nodes for free space energy dissipation model when transmission distance is less than threshold i.e.<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x96.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x97.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x98.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>. <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x96.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x97.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x98.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x99.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>is the energy coefficient of power amplifier stage of sensor nodes for multipath energy dissipation model when transmission distance is greater than threshold i.e.<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x96.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x97.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x98.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x99.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x100.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>. For<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x96.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x97.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x98.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x99.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x100.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x101.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>, distance threshold can be calculated as<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x96.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x97.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x98.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x99.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x100.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x101.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x102.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>.</p><p>The energy consumed to receive m bit data is expressed as:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula34"><label>(21)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x103.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>Initially two-level network is considered, where</p><p>Total number of nodes = n</p><p>Total number of cluster heads = k</p><p>Number of level 1 CHs = k'</p><p>Number of level 2 CHs = k''</p><p>Number of normal sensor nodes = n − k</p><p>The proposed CBTS algorithm uses <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x104.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> messages to synchronize n number of SNs. The energy dissipation for receiving and transmitting m bit time synchronization message derived below depends on the number of messages received and transmitted by the SNs. As the sink/base station is at level 0 with no constraint of energy, the energy exhausted during transmitting and receiving m bit time synchronization message at level 1 CHs and level 2 CHs is calculated by using the Equations (20) and (21).</p><p>Energy consumption at level 1 CHs: Total energy consumed in CBTS protocol while receiving and sending synchronization messages at level 1 CHs is given by Equation (22) and (23) <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x105.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>respectively and the total energy consumed at level 1 CHs is given by Equation (24)<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x105.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x106.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>.</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula35"><label>(22)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x107.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula36"><label>(23)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x108.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula37"><label>(24)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x109.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>Energy consumption at level 2 CHs: Energy consumed by level 2 CHs while receiving and transmitting synchronization messages is given by Equations (25) and (26) <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x110.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>respectively and the total energy consumed by level 2 CHs is given by Equation (27)<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x110.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x111.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>.</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula38"><label>. (25)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x112.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula39"><label>(26)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x113.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula40"><label>(27)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x114.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>Energy consumption at SNs level: Energy consumed by SNs while receiving and sending synchronization messages is given by Equations (28) and (29)</p><p><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x115.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>respectively and the total energy consumed by SNs for receiving and sending time synchronization messages is given by Equation (30)<inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x115.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x116.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula>.</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula41"><label>(28)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x117.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula42"><label>(29)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x118.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula43"><label>(30)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x119.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>Total energy consumption for communication: The energy consumption rate for sensors in a WSN contrasts significantly on the basis of the protocols the sensors employ for communications. However, the total energy expended for communication of synchronization messages in the proposed model is given by Equation (31) which is further simplified in Equations (32)-(39). Therefore, the total energy dissipation for a single round of time synchronization for <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x120.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> level of hierarchical sensor networks is given by Equation (39).</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula44"><label>(31)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x121.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula45"><label>(32)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x122.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula46"><label>(33)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x123.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>Solving above, following equation is obtained:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula47"><label>(34)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x124.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula48"><label>(35)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x125.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula49"><label>(36)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x126.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula50"><label>(37)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x127.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula51"><label>(38)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x128.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>Equation for <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x129.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> Level (i &gt; 2) can be standardized as:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula52"><label>(39)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x130.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>where the value of <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x131.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> is taken as <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x131.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x132.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> and the value of <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x131.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x132.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x133.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> can be ob-</p><p>tained as:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.76449-formula53"><label>(40)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x134.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula></sec><sec id="s5"><title>5. Simulation and Results</title><p>In this section, the performance of Cluster Based Time Synchronization (CBTS) algorithm has been evaluated through simulation. The simulation has been performed in MATLAB 2013a. The performance of CBTS protocol is compared with TPSN [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref15">15</xref>] and TTS [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.76449-ref18">18</xref>] protocols. The performance metrics include the number of nodes in the WSN, initial energy of the SNs, total number of messages per synchronization round, total energy dissipation per synchronization round, propagated synchronization error and convergence time. The simulation parameters are listed in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref> where for each parameter, simulation has been run many times and the average result of all runs has been taken for evaluation.</p><p>The performance evaluation includes message complexity, total energy dissipation per synchronization round, propagated synchronization error with number of hops and convergence time.</p><p>The message complexity in terms of the total number of time synchronization messages per synchronization round while the number of nodes varies from 50 to 500 and the sensing field area is kept constant i.e. 300 m &#215; 300 m as shown in the <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8">Figure 8</xref>. The simulation results show that the number of time synchronization messages increase with the increase in the number of nodes in a constant field size because increase in number of nodes leads to increase in time synchronization messages. There is a significant reduction in terms of time synchronization messages in the proposed CBTS method than TPSN and TTS methods. TPSN requires <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x135.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> messages to synchronize n SNs and TTS requires <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x135.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x136.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> messages. CBTS reduces the number of synchronization messages by 40% as compared to TPSN and 25% as compared to TTS. The proposed CBTS method</p><table-wrap id="table1" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref></label><caption><title> Simulation parameters</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Parameter</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Default Value</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Range</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Network size (side of square sensor field)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >300 m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >100 m ~ 500 m</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Number of nodes</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >300</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50 ~ 500</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Initial energy of node</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2 Joule</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Sink location</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >(0, 0)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Data packet size (k)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >16 KB</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >E<sub>elec</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50 nJ/bit</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >ɛ<sub>fs</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 pJ/bit/m<sup>2</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >ɛ<sub>mp</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.00134 pJ/bit/m<sup>4</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Data rate</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10 Kbps</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Transmission range</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >75 m</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><fig id="fig8"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8">Figure 8</xref></label><caption><title> Variation in time synchronization messages with number of nodes</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x137.png"/></fig><p>provides the best results in comparison with other protocols. Fewer time synchronization messages decrease the overhead in terms of communication and thus increase the network lifetime.</p><p>Total energy dissipation is calculated as the amount of energy dissipated within the sensor network to perform time synchronization. <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9">Figure 9</xref> shows the comparison of simulation results of energy variation for different protocols such as TPSN, TTS and CBTS. The variation in the energy dissipation is studied by varying number of nodes from 50 to 500, while keeping the sensing field size constant as 300 m. It has been observed that the energy dissipation per round increases with increase in the number of nodes. Increased number of nodes leads to increase in the number of time synchronization messages which increases the total routing energy and thus total node energy consumed. The simulation results in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9">Figure 9</xref>(a) show that CBTS protocol provides better performance compared to other two protocols. This is due to the less number of synchronization messages and better clustering technique as compared to TPSN and TTS.</p><p>It has been observed that the energy dissipation incessantly increases with the increase in the sensing field size. The distance between the sink and the sensing node increases with the increase in the sensing field size, which increases the transmission energy cost, although the time synchronization messages remain the same. Aforementioned, the performance of cluster based time synchronization (CBTS) is better than other two protocols due to the reduction in the number of synchronization messages and better clustering approach.</p><p><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9">Figure 9</xref>(b) shows the total energy dissipation per round for variation in the sensing field sized between 100 m to 500 m while the number of nodes remains constant at 300 nodes. It has been observed that the energy dissipation goes on increasing with the increase in the sensing field size. The distance between the sink and the sensing node increases with the increase in the sensing field size, which increases the transmission energy cost. In case of TPSN protocol the value</p><fig-group id="fig9"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9">Figure 9</xref></label><caption><title> Variation in total energy dissipation per synchronization round with (a) number of nodes in sensing field, and (b) sensing field size.</title></caption><fig id ="fig9_1"><label>(b)</label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x138.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig9_2"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x139.png"/></fig></fig-group><p>is the highest because it uses n + n messages to synchronize n nodes as compared to TTS and CBTS.</p><p>Synchronization error is the difference between the times of a CH with respect to the times of the sink. The synchronization error is added with the increasing number of hops generally. The variation in the synchronization error is studied by fixed number of nodes i.e. 300 nodes, while keeping the sensing field size constant at 300 m. The synchronization error increases with number of hops for CBTS, TTS and TPSN protocols in particular as shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>0. The values shown in the <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>0 are the average of 50 simulation results.</p><p>The synchronization error of TPSN is high i.e. 16 μs for one hop and 46 μs for five hops because of the topology and number of messages required for synchronization of the TPSN network. Synchronization error in TPSN is high because it</p><fig id="fig10"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>0</label><caption><title> Variation in propagated synchronization error with number of hops</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x140.png"/></fig><p>uses large number of messages, since several messages bump into each other causing a collision and required to be sent again and leads to error. A large amount of message transmission leads to collisions and further to performance degradation. Synchronization error of TTS is also high because of using a pair of nodes to synchronize the SNs which increase number of messages and adds errors at each hop. The performance of cluster based time synchronization (CBTS) is better than other two protocols i.e. 2.6 μs for five hops due to less number of synchronization messages and better clustering approach which reduces the packet collisions and thereby reducing the synchronization error. Simulation results show that our proposed protocol outperforms other protocols in terms of synchronization error. In case of TPSN, the unbalanced clustering technique and the overhead of messages for synchronization are responsible for higher synchronization error. CBTS uses EECA clustering technique which required less number of synchronization messages to synchronize the sensor network.</p><p>The total time required to synchronize the network is known as convergence time. The variation in the convergence time is studied by fixed number of nodes i.e. 300 nodes, while keeping the sensing field size constant as 300 m. Convergence time is measured for five hops and observes that it increases with number of hops for TPSN, TTS and CBTS protocols as shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>1. Convergence time is directly proportional to message complexity and bandwidth use. TPSN requires <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x141.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> messages to synchronize n SNs and TTS requires <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x141.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula><inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x142.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> time synchronization messages, therefore the convergence time for TPSN and TTS is very high. In TPSN for five hops it is 4 s and for TTS it is 3 s. In CBTS it is 2 s for five hops. Simulation results shows that CBTS protocol outperforms the other protocols in terms of convergence time with respect to number of hops. In TPSN convergence time is higher because of unbalanced hierarchical technique and more number of messages. CBTS uses less number of messages and better clustering topology.</p><fig id="fig11"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>1</label><caption><title> Variation in convergence time with number of hops</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x143.png"/></fig></sec><sec id="s6"><title>6. Conclusion</title><p>The proposed cluster based time synchronization protocol ensures the synchronization of the nodes with global time. The proposed CBTS protocol uses the EECA clustering technique proposed in section 2 for clustering the network. Synchronization is performed using top to bottom approach. CHs synchronize with the sink and SNs synchronize with their respective CHs. The proposed technique uses <inline-formula><inline-graphic xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/1-9501531x144.png" xlink:type="simple"/></inline-formula> messages to synchronize the n SNs. Therefore, the proposed CBTS is suitable for time synchronization in energy efficiency manner. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed protocol in terms of message complexity, total energy dissipation per synchronization round, propagated synchronization error, convergence time and synchronization precision level. The simulation results are compared with TPSN and TTS protocols. The proposed CBTS protocol provides better results in comparison with these protocols and can be used in WSNs for less energy consumption and prolonging the network lifetime.</p></sec><sec id="s7"><title>Cite this paper</title><p>Gautam, G.C. and Chand, N. 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